Refrigerator



April 11, 1944. w. F. BORGERD ET AL 2,346,287

I REFRIGERATOR I Filed Sept. 2l, 1942 l 2 Sheets-Sheet l /f Z ,9'1// .M, ,rif 1 EVAPORATING 32 UNIT l l .sa zz i 5 v 26. l z5 4 l /9 Z f April 11, 1944.7

W. F. BORGERD .ETAL

REFRIGERATOR Filed Sept. 2l, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 11, 1944 2,346,287 I REFRIGERATOB William F. Borgerd, Riverside, and John Johnsen -and Lester H. Hinkel. Chicago, Ill., assignors to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application September 21, 1942, Serial No. 459,098

` (ci. ca ssi l Claims.

This invention relates to a refrigerator. More specifically it relates to a refrigerator of the type having a relatively warm compartment and a relatively cold compartment adapted to cool the relatively warm compartment.

Refrigerators are known which are composed kol. a relatively warm compartment, a relatively cool compartment, and a wall therebetween having thermostatically controlled openings for controlling the cooling effect of the cold compartment upon the warm compartment. Frequently, in constructions of this sort. there is unsatisfactory cooling of the warm compartment because o1' stratliication due to the inrush of cold air into the warm compartment immediately opposite an opening or openings in the wall between the compartments. The construction of the present application relates to means by which this disad vantage is overcome.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved refrigerator.

A further object is to provide an improved refrigerator of the type in which the warm compartment is cooled by the cold compartment.

Another object is the provision of a thermostatically controlled means for regulating the cooling of the warm compartment of a refrigerator by a cold compartment.

Other objects will appear from the disclosure.

According to the present invention, a wall between the warm compartment and the cold compartment of a refrigerator is provided with thermostatically controlled openings for regulating the cooling. One opening is considerably above the other and is opened a considerable time before the other one is opened.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a refrigerator embodying the principles oi the present invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are sectional views of the veri tical wall between the warm and cold compartments of the refrigerator and showing the thermostatically controlled openings in the wall in two dierent positions:

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the vertical wall shown in Figures 2 and 3:

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the lower end of the vertical wall and a modied form of closure therefor in closed position; and

a bottom is. The casing is divided by a lvertical wall IB extending from the bottom I5 toa point near but slightly spacedfrom the top I4 and byV a horizontal wall I1 extending between. the'side wall I2 and the vertical wall I6 in spaced relation with the bottom I5. Thus, the casing II- is divided into three compartments: a warm compartment I8 extending from the top I4-and the bottom l5 and between the vertical wall I6 and the side I3, a cool compartment Ilextendlng between the top I4 and the horizontal wall I1 and l between the side I2 and the vertical wall I6, and a chamber 2 0 between the horizontal wall II and Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to Figure 54 the bottom I5 and between the side I2 and the vertical wall I6. The chamber 20 contains a condensing unit 2I which is operatively connected with an evaporating unit22 positioned in the cold chamber I9. 'Ihe condensing unit is connected with the evaporating unit in a way well understood in the art, but not shown, since the connection forms no part of the present invention. It is suilicient to state that refrgerating gas expanded in the evaporating unit for cooling of the cold chamber I9 is conducted lto the condensing unit wherein it is again condensed to liquid form.

There is an opening 23 between the warm compartment I8 and the cold chamber' I9 formed between the upper edge of the vertical wall I6 and the top I4 ofthe casing II. The vertical wall I6 has an opening 24 located considerably above the horizontal wall I1 forming the lbottom of the cold chamber I9. The opening 24 is adapted to be closed by a closure member V25-pivoted on pins carried on brackets 26a securedv to the vertical wall I6 and on brackets 26h secured to the closure member 25. There is another opening 21 considerably below the opening 24 and adjacent to the horizontal wall I1. This opening is adapte1 to be` closed by the closure member 28 plvotally y mounted at each end on pins 29 carried by bracktal width extending from one side of the vertical wall Il to the other, the area of the' opening 24 and the closure member 26 is considerably greater than that ci the opening 21 in the closure member 28. The purpose of this will be described presently. Positioned above the opening 24 and secured to the vertical wall It within the warm chamber I8 is a thermostat 32 which is not shown in detail, since it forms no part of the present invention. It is suilicient to state that it is set to operate upon rise of the temperature in the warm chamber I8 to or above a predetermined point. When this takes place, the thermostat 32 rotates an arm 33 extending downwardly from the thermostat 32 and pivoted at a point 34 in a clockwise direction. The lower end of the arm 33 is connected by a short link 35 With a bracket 38 secured to one side ofthe closure member 25 at the opening 24. A bracket 31 is secured to the other side-of the closure member 25, and to it is pivotally connected one end of a long link 38 which has a lower curved end 38 pivotally connected to a bracket 48 secured to the closure member 28 at the opening 21. Thus by virtue of the connection of the arm 33 with the closure member 25 Athrough the short link 35 and the connection oi the closure member 25 with the closure member 28 through the long.

, horizontal wah I1 is provided as a base for the ber 28 moves toward an open position, it stays in contact with the curved ange 4I throughout a considerable-part of its movement and thus serves to keep the opening 21 closed until it has reached the extreme position illustrated in Figure 2. The result is that the opening 24 is open a considerable time before the opening 21 is opened.

In operation of the refrigerator, articles to-be kept at a low temperature, but not at an extremely low temperature, are placed in the warm compartment I8. This compartment has been termed a Warm compartment because its temperature is somewhat above that of the so-called cold compartment lISI in which the evaporating unit 22 is positioned. As long as the warm compartment I8 stays4 below the predetermined temperature for which the thermostat 32 is set, the openings 24 and 21 are kept closed by the closure members 25 and 28, and there is only a very small flow of air between the compartments through the opening 23 at the top of the vertical wall I8. When, however, the temperature of the Warm compartment I8 rises above the predetermined temperature for which the thermostat 32 is set, the arm 33 is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction, and this movement causes the closure members 21 and 28 to swing open as shown in Figure 3. As previously stated, the curved ilange 4I keeps the lower opening 21 closed through most of the movement of the closure member 28, and the result is that the opening 24 is opened a considerable time before the opening 21 is opened. By this arrangement, cold air from the cold compartment I8 iiowsinto the warm compartment I8 through the opening 24 and' descends through the major part of the compartment I8 so as to be diused into the warmer air contained therein, and a uniform cooling takes place. This has taken place to a considerable extent before the lower opening 21 has opened, the opening of which supplements the cooling action of the upper opening 24 by permitting the passage of cold air from the cold compartment I8-to the warm compartment I3. If the opening 21 were open at the' same time as the opening 24, the very cold air at the bottom of the cold compartment I8 would pass into the warm compartment I8 and drop quickly to the bottom 'without affecting the greater mass of air above the opening 21; Thus there would be stratiiication of the air in the warm compartment I8 or, in other words. separate layers of cold air and warm air and an unsatisfactory cooling. The vertical width of the opening 24 and consequently the total area of this opening are respectively considerably greater than the vertical width and the area of the opening 21 in order that there may be compensation for the greater cooling eifect .of the colder air passing through the opening 21. The

cold compartment I8 considerably above the base I5 o1' the casing II forming the base for the warm compartment I8 so that when the opening 21 is opened there may be diiusion to some extent oi' the very cold air passing through the opening 21, because of' the dropping of this cold air through the portion of the warm compartment I8 from the level of the'horizontal wall I1 to the bottom I5.

A shield 42 is provided opposite the opening 24 at the sidetoward the warm compartment I8. This shield is formed of wire members which include end pieces 43 with bent ends, as indicated in Figures 2 and 3, horizontal members 44 secured to and extending between the end pieces 43 in spaced relation to the vertical wall I8, and members 45 parallel to the members 44 but in contact with the wall I8, to which members the end pieces 43 are secured and which fasten the o guard 42 to the vertical wall I8 by bent-out portions 48 through which extend bolts 41. The structure also includes members 48 shaped somewhat like the end pieces 43 and serving to brace the central portions of the longitudinal members 44. Two of the members 48 are somewhat close to one another and are near the arm 33 on opposite sides thereof. Opposite the arm 33 are longitudinal members 48 and 48a, which do not extend the full length of the guard 42 but leave a space between two members 48 through which access is allowed to the lower end oi' the arm 33 for connection of the short link 38 therewith. A U-shaped member 88 is secured at its lower end to the guard 42 and has a bent-out portion 8I at its upper end secured to the thermostat 32 by a bolt 52. A double U member 53 is secured to a portion of the U-shaped member 8| and extends to the wall I8. The members 88 and 83 serve to protect the arm 33.

In the modification shown in Figures 5 and 8, the lower closure member 28 has a ange 84 at the lower edge thereof so that, as the closure member 28 is moved toward open position by the link 38, the lower opening 21 is kept closed during a part of this time or, in other words. is not opened until after the upper opening 24 is opened a substantial amount. Thus the flange 84 on the lower closure member '28 serves the same purpose as the curved flange 4I, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. namely, to prevent the lower opening 21 from opening until after the upper opening 24 has opened a substantial amount. 'I'he flange 84 moves over a part 88 which carries a flange 86 solely for stifl'ening.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that a new and novel vrefrigerator construction has been provided by` which openings in the wall between warm and cold compartments o! y the refrigerator are th'ermostatically controlled and are arranged so'that the upper opening opens a considerable time before the Vlower opening. This prevents stratillcation of warm andv cold masses of air in the warm compartment and insures a good mixing of thewarm and cold air.

The bottom of the cold compartment is consid- 'erably above the bottom of the warm compartment so that, when the opening in the wall at the point adjacent the base of the cold compart- `ment is opened, the very cold air passing from the bottom of the cold compartment into the warm compartment drops through the air in the portion of the warm compartment between Athe bottom of the cold compartment and the bottom of the warm compartment, and a good diffusion results in that part of the warm compartment.

The intention is to limit'lthe invention only within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

to be kept at a temperature considerably lower.

than that of the iii-st chamber and to abstract heat from the rst chamber to maintain the rst 1. In a refrigerator comprising a first ch'am- 4 ber adapted to be kept at a low temperature and a second chamber adapted toV be kept ata considerably .lower temperature than thatof the first chamber and` positioned adjacent the rst "chamber to abstract heat to maintain the first chamber at its low temperature, the combination therewith of means operable uponrise of the temperature in the rst chamber abovea predetermined point for first opening a first passage between the chambers and for thereafter opening a second passage between the chambers below the rst passage.

2. In a refrigerator comprising a rst chamber adapted to be kept at a low temperature, a second chamber adapted to be kept at a considerably lower temperature than that of the first chamber and positioned adjacent the first chamber to abstract heat to maintain the rst cham- -ber at its low temperature, and a common wall between the chambers, the combination therewith, of means operable upon rise of th'e temperature in the first chamber above a predetermined point for iirst providing a first opening in the wall and for thereafter providing a second openingin the wall below the first opening.

3. In a refrigerator comprising a rst chamberA adapted to be kept at a low temperature, a second chamber adapted to be kept at a considerably lower temperature than that of the first chamber and to abstract heat from the first chamber through connecting passage means between the ch'ambers for maintaining the rst chamber at its low temperature, the combination therewith of means operable upon rise of the temperature of the iirst chamber above a predetermined point for rst opening a rst passage between the chambers and for thereafter opening a second passage below the first passage and between the lower end of the second chamber and chamber at its low temperature, a common wall between the chambers having a first opening at a level well above the bottom of the second chamber and a second opening below the first opening at a level adjacent the bottom ofthe second ch'amber and well above the bottom of the rst chamber, and closures for the openings, the combination therewith, of means operable upon rise of the temperature inthe first chamber above a predetermined point for opening the a point of the first chamber considerably above its lower end.

4. In a refrigerator comprising a rst chamber adapted to be kept at a low temperature, a second chamber positioned alongside th'erst chamber with its bottom at a level considerably above the level of the first chamber and adapted to be v kept at a temperature considerably lower than that of the rst chamber and to abstract heat from the first chamber to maintain the first wall between the chambers, the combination therewith of means operable upon rise of th'e temperature of the prat chamber above a preclosure at the rst opening in the wall, and means -connecting the closures for causing opening of the closureV at the iirst opening subsequently to opening the closure at the second opening.

6. In a refrigerator comprising a first chamber adapted to be kept at a low temperature, a second chamber positioned alongside the first chamber and adapted to be kept at a temperature considerably lower than that of the first chamber and to abstract heat from the rst chamber to maintain the iirst chamber at its low temperature, a common wall between the chambers having a first opening well above the bottom of the second chamber and a second opening adjacent the bottom of the second chamber, and closure members movably mounted on the wall for the openings, the `combination therewith, `oi.' means interconnecting the closures to make them conjointly movable, means operable upon rise of the temperature in the rst chamber above a predetermined point for moving the closures to open the openings, and flange means on the closure for the second opening cooperating with the second opening for keeping the second opening closed during a portion of the movement of the second closure and thereby to cause the .first opening to be opened before the second opening.

7. In the refrigerator specified in claim 6, the bottomof the second container being considerably above the level of the bottom of the rst container whereby the opening in the wall at the bottom of the second container is well above the bottom of the rst container.

8. In the construction specified in claim 2, the first opening being of considerably larger area than the second opening.

9. In the construction specified in claim 3, the first passage being of considerably larger area than the second passage.

10. In the construction specified in claim 4, the rst passage being of considerably greater vertical width than the second passage.

11. In the construction specified in claim 5, the first opening being of considerably greater vertical width than the second opening.

12. In the construction specified in claim 6, the rst opening being of considerably greater area than the second opening.

13. In the construction specified in claim 7, the first opening being of considerably greater determined point for first openinga nrst passage vertical depth than the second openingand the bottomof the second container beinsbconsider- -ablygabove .the level of the bottom oi the nrst container, {whereby the opening in the wall at the bottom of thesecond container is well above the :bottom of the first container. f

14.=In a refrigerator; a casing, a vertical wall extending from top tobottom at a mid point be.- tween oppqsite side walls of the casingtand a horizontal wall 'extending from the vertical wall to one side wall at4 a level considerably above the bottom ofthe casing so as to divide the casing into a first chamber extending f romtop to bottom of the casing and from the verticalwall to the other sidewalland adapted to be keptv at a low temperature, a second chamber extending from the top of the casing to the horizontal ywall and from the vertical vvall to the saidk one side wall and adapted the first chamber above a predetermined point for tlrst opening the rst opening in the vertical wall and thereafter opening the second `opening lntheverticalwall. f. `15.111 a refrigerator comprising a ilrst `chamber adapted to be kept at a low temperature, a second chamber positioned alongside the first chamber and adapted to be kept at a temperature considerably lower than that of the first 'chamber and to abstract heat from the flrst chamber to maintain the rst chamber at its low temperature, a common wall between the chambers having a first opening well above the bottom ofthe second chamber and a second opening-adjacent the bottom of the secondkchamber, and closure members movably mounted on the wall for the openings, thecombinationtherewith, of means interconnecting the closures to make them coniointly movable, means operable upon rise of the temperature in the first chamber above a predetermined point for moving the closures to open the openings, and flange means at the wall ad- `jacent the second opening cooperating with the closure therefor for keeping the second opening closed during a portion of the movement ofthe second closure and thereby yto cause the nrst opening to be opened -before the second opening.

' WILLIAM F. BORGERD.

JOHN JOHNSEN. LESTER H. HINKEL. 

